The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-20
Jessie James.
Missouri City Correspondence OF the Globe.
Democrat.


spondent, in company with his best girl,
visited the home OF Mrs. Zerelda Sam
uels, mother OF the James boys, in the
northern part OF this CLAY county,
fifteen miles north OF here and three
miles east OF Kearney. The Samuels
farm is one OF the best in the county.
To the west and south beautiful and
extensive bluegrass pastures lie,
with lowing herds grazing thereupon,
while northward the country is heavi-
ly timbered, with many by-paths lead
ing through, Outlines Travelled
by Frank and Jesse In
the midnight hours, when visiting
their old nome. The Samuels house
is one-stpry structure, with the eX..
ception Of the front, which has small
ettic room above, with small WIN
dows. which has been described in the
past as port holes" through which
Jesse and Frank would pour forth
their deadly volleys on all who might
dare attempt their capture. The ~
is long and contains four rooms, with
a porch extending along the south
side. The house fronts east, and was
built in the early days, and its design
was such as was quite fashionable IN
the pioneer times.
On arriving at the house, and after
timidly knocking at the door, Mrs.
Samuels opened it and kindly invited
us in, where were seated her son John
and wife and daughter, and her hus-
band, with their families, they having
gathered there to spend and enjoy
the bright, beautiful Sabbath day.
Mrs. Samuels was quite laxative
rom the first, and was not at
all reticent or reserved in
her conversation during the stay
OF two hours. She is large, portly
woman, close on to six feet tall, very
graceful and easy in her bearing. Her
head is covered with silvery-gray locks,
which. add much to her attractive APP
pearance. Her eyes are steel gray,
and continually moving in their sock
is, closely observing everything,
Though in such way as to be hardly
noticeable, Her presence and appear
ance indicate lady OF more than or
binary intelligence. She is sixty.three
years of age.
She talked OF Jesse and Frank, as to
how they had lived and the many
ways and means that were employed
in attempting to effect their
capture, but at no time did she
speak harshly orexhibit any ill-feeling
toward those who made the efforts;
not even in speaking OF Robert Ford,
or OF the nights when her home was
raided by Pinkerton's band OF detect
ives, and hand-grenade, wrapped in
an old gunny-sack saturated with oil,
was thrown through the. window, and
onexploding caused the loss OF her little
boy, as well as her own arm.
"Do you miss the loss OF your arm
as much as at first"
eyes; more, | believe, as / grow old.
er. But there is another loss | suf-
fered on that memorable cold Janu-
airy night that ] feel lnore-that robbed
me OF much sunshne-ehe loss OF my
fair, sweet, young boy. He was eight
years OF age, and he often would say
to me: Mamma, isn't it strange that
both the men ] was named after were
killed. His name was Archie Payton,
Jesse having christened him after two
OF his guerrilla friends who were killed.
And the poor little fellow was killed,
too. The James boys were not at
home that night"
In speaking OF both Frank and Jesse,
Mrs. Samuels would invariably say
the "James boys"
Part OF the hand.grenade she has in
her possession yet.
"How often would the boys come
to see your" she was asked.
"Not verv frequently. Frank was
away once for four years. that was
while he was in Tennessee. Eighteen
months was the longest period Jesse
ever remained away. He would come
home and say, Mother, could not
STAY away longer without coming to
see you and the old home for little
Bit They would always come in the
night, and only remain day or so.
would never know when they were
coming, nor did lever hear from them
when away. My mail, OF course was
closely watched"
"Did any officer ever come here
while they were at homer"
"Yes, twice. Once Capt. Thomson
and son Oscar, present sheriff OF this
county, came here, and Jesse was at
home. They inquired for Jesse, but |
kept talking to them and inviting
them in, trying to delay them as much
as possible. Jesse, in the meantime,
was going out back window across
to the barn and making for the woods.
They discovered him, and followed in
hot pursuit. and ENGAGED in a sharp